Managing Loss in the Historic Environment: Ecocultural Approaches

This transdisciplinary 1-day course provided training and knowledge exchange for those involved in managing complex change (including the potential for substantial harm or loss) in heritage assets and landscapes. It was aimed at a cross-sector audience, including historic and natural environment practitioners, cultural resource consultants, regulatory and local planning authorities, landscape architects, curators, and ecological surveyors. Both in-person and online participation were possible.

Participants reviewed environmental drivers for change in the historic environment (in UK and international contexts), discussed a range of established and emerging options for managing anticipated impacts, and explored approaches with an ‘ecocultural’ emphasis, seeking integrated historic and natural environment outcomes. They gained awareness of relevant policy developments and developed confidence in applying new approaches while navigating context-specific challenges.

Detailed case studies grounded the exploration of key themes, leading participants to think about how to define, accept, and learn from (partial or total) loss in the historic environment, and how to assess the risks and rewards associated with adaptive, integrated approaches. The program included contributions from National Trust and Historic England staff directly involved in developing policy and practice to address the challenges explored in the course. In the afternoon, those who attended in person were invited to share cases from their own work in a participatory workshop, applying the approaches introduced in the morning session.